Abstract

Background: Hearing difficulties in COVID may range from mild to severe and vary based on COVID-19 severity. They range from the self-manageable at home to the ones needing hospitalization. They include dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, and/or hearing loss.
Aims: To assess the long-term impact of COVID-19 on the existence of audiovestibular disorders in subjects hospitalized previously for COVID-19.
Materials and Methods: 30 test and 30 control subjects hospitalized in the institution after COVID-19 were assessed for audiovestibular screening Tonal Audiometry was then done to measure bone and air conduction thresholds. Gain threshold was assessed for vestibular loss set at a value less than 0, 6 at 60ms, and vHIT was performed.  The collected data were subjected to statistical evaluation and the results were formulated.
Results:Dizziness was seen in 10% (n=3) subjects, tinnitus in 3.33% (n=1) subject, spinning vertigo in 3.33% (n=1) subject, Dynamic disequilibrium/ imbalance in 3.33% (n=1) subject, static disequilibrium/ imbalance in 6.66% (n=2) subjects, and hearing loss in 10% (n=3) subjects. PTA values were statistically non-significant at all frequencies except at 0.25, 0.5, 2, and 4 kHz with respective p-values of 0.003, 0.083, 0.04, and 0.03. In gain values only vHIT significant gain was seen in right anterior canal with values of 0.798±0.257 in cases and 0.949±0.121 in controls and the p-value of 0.004
Conclusion:Within its limitations, the present study concludes that audiovestibular symptoms and components are involved in subjects with COVID-19. No definitive conclusion can be drawn on auditory involvement in subjects with a history of COVID-19 with the previous hospitalization.